Thanksgiving Weekend

What an end to the week it was! My family arrived to the cities safely on Thanksgiving day. Lisa, Brent, and the kids arrived around 10:30, and my parents around noon. We all spent the day at Grandma & Grandpa Veldman's. We spent the day hanging out, playing cards, and eating a fabulous dinner. Thank you Grandma Veldman for hosting and making such an amazing meal! The three of us and Grandma & Grandpa Becker headed back to our house, while Aunt Lisa, Uncle Brent, and all the kids stayed at Grandma & Grandpa Veldman's. They spent each night there. Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for hosting all the kids! We're betting that your house seems Very quiet tonight!

Friday everybody came over here (after crazy Uncle Brent and Grandpa Veldman got up early to go shopping). Grandma B, Aunt Lisa, and I ran to the mall real quick after lunch. We were back in time to go to a movie. Ava stayed home with Daddy (who got off work a little early), Reece, and Grandma & Grandpa B. Ava wasn't real fond of Grandpa B at first...that is until he fed her a meal. He put food in that little belly and now Grandpa B and Ava are super tight!

Saturday was the Big IA/MN game! Daddy, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Brent, Uncle Wes, and some other crazy people went down tailgating around 9 am. It was approx. 13 degrees out at that time. Grandpa V, Grandma & Grandpa B, and I left to tailgate around 11:00. Jordan & Ali stayed home with all the kids and watched Ava for us. The girls did a great job babysitting! Grandma & Grandpa B decided they were going to come back and watch the game where it was nice and warm; on our couch. The rest of us stayed out in the cold to watch a GOPHER VICTORY!!! Yes, that's correct...the gophers beat the hawks! It was a great game; a little chilly but a lot of fun. It made for a very happy daddy! We got back to our house that evening, had dinner, and said good-bye to Brent, Lisa, Jordan, Ali, Zacky, Ellen, & Reece, as they left early this morning from Grandma & Grandpa V's. As for the rest of us, we were all in bed before 10:00. What an exhausting day!

Today was a pretty laid back day. We got up, went to church, had lunch, and said good-bye to Grandma & Grandpa B. Both Ava and I laid down for a nap (much needed for both of us). Now we're catching up on laundry and cleaning up a bit after the fun filled weekend. We're so grateful that we were able to spend Thanksgiving with both of our families (and that we didn't have to drive anywhere!). We hope that everybody had a good time, and look forward to seeing my family again next month for our Christmas celebration!

Our family on Ava's 1st Thanksgiving

Uncle Wes reading to Reece & Ava

Ava's 1st Thanksgiving & 9 month birthday

Ava & cousin Zacky

Ava & Grandma B playing

Grandpa & Ava reading

Daddy & Ava Ava with her cousins: Ali, Zacky, Ellen, Jordan, & Reece

Ava & Reece. Ava in her gopher gear like Daddy, and Reece in his Hawkeye gear like his mommy (see below)

Nate & Aunt Lisa

Mommy, Daddy, Granmda & Grandpa B, Aunt Lisa, and Uncle Brent

Daddy, Zach, Julie, Mommy...our Luther/fellow blogging friends

At the end of the IA/MN game!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It never seems to fail...we get a snow storm on the day our family is supposed to travel for our holiday get together. Last year was the blizzard for Christmas, this year is another storm for Thanksgiving. We are very grateful that we're not having to travel this year, as part of my family is coming up here. I just got the call from Grandma & Grandpa Becker, and well as Aunt Lisa saying that they're not coming tonight. Travel is not recommended in northern IA. We're glad that they're waiting, as we would not want to have to worry about them all evening or have them have to drive on icy roads. We're praying that they will arrive safely tomorrow though. We're very anxious to see them, and really need help eating the 19 lb turkey that Grandma Veldman got. I have to admit, sitting in my living room play blocks on the floor with Ava, the snow is beautiful coming down. It's just that it would be so much more beautiful if it weren't falling on the biggest travel day of the year.

We want to wish you all a Wonderful Thanksgiving. We wish you safe travels, and hope that you are able to spend your day surrounded by those you love. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

PS- Wishing my parents a Happy 38th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow!

Finally

Ava had her 9 month photo shoot today and we Finally caught those smiles on camera. Our photographer, Angela, (angelacourtneyphotography.com) came over this afternoon. Ava was much more cooperative than during her last photo shoot. I'm anxious to see the pictures.

We've had a great weekend. It started off on Friday when we got to have lunch with Jenny and Baby Nora. Nora was a superstar and slept/quietly hung out while we were eating. We then went over to Edelweiss Baby so that we could introduce Nora to a life of hats, headbands, and big flowers. :) We can't wait to see her modeling her purchases!

Saturday morning Daddy had to work. When he got home we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Veldman's. Ava hung out with the guys while Grandma and I went to the store to get some groceries for the upcoming holiday week. We're lucky enough to have Lisa, Brent, Jordan, Ali, Zacky, Ellen, Reece, as well as Grandma & Grandpa Becker coming to visit for Thanksgiving. We're just really hoping that we don't get a big snowstorm on Wednesday night. Anyway, Uncle Wes came over as well so Ava got to play with him. We ordered in some yummy Chinese food, and hung out for the evening. laughing as Uncle Wes and Daddy reminisced about the good ol' days (Uncle Wes was on a roll). Ava was such a good girl. We put her down to bed at Grandma & Grandpa's in her pack and play, woke her up for the drive home (she talked to the whole way home), changed her, and put her in her crib. She put herself to sleep again for the rest of the night. I thought that I might have to feed her again, but she was just fine. We are so blessed to have such a good little girl.

We woke this morning to an ice rink outside our house. We had rain all night and it froze on the roads instantly. After watching the news, where they said that travel is not recommended, we opted to stay home from church this morning. I walked to the mailbox, or rather slid there. It was unbelievable. I'm so grateful that we didn't have to go anywhere this morning! I'm hoping that it doesn't refreeze tonight since I do have to go to work in the morning.

Big news from Ava...she's getting another tooth. She has one of her top front teeth coming in. Just in time for a Thanksgiving feast!

We hope that you all had a wonderful weekend, and wish you all safe travels if you're heading out of town for Thanksgiving.

Ava in her new hat, getting ready to go with Daddy to the grocery store this morning.

It's here

Like it or not, winter is here. We got out first snow on Saturday, and it wasn't just a little bit. We got around 8 inches. I woke up early for work on Saturday morning and the ground was already covered. Driving to work was a bit scary, but I made it. Had I been able to sit on the couch all day and watch it fall, it would have been beautiful! I'm kind of sad that I was working. I would have loved to have taken Ava out in her little snowsuit and watch her experience snow for the first time. Oh well, there will unfortunately be plenty of snow to come.

We don't have a whole lot to update. Ava got to spend some time with Daddy this past weekend. He took her over to Uncle Wes's house to hang out. I heard they had a great time. After church on Sunday Daddy and Ava went to Grandma and Grandpa's as well. I worked Monday evening so Ava got to hang with Daddy once again. Yesterday Ava and I went to the gym and then went shopping with Grandma while I got new tires put on my car (wish I would have had those on Saturday). Today Ava and I ran to Target and that's about it. It hit me today that it's going to be a very long winter. It's really hard to not be able to go outside. We're so used to going for long walks or over to the park. I'm afraid that we both might get bored and go stir crazy before spring comes. Luckily we have daily plans for the next week.

We hope that your week is going well and that you're all looking forward to the upcoming holidays. Some of my immediate family is coming up here to celebrate this year...we can't wait to see them!!!


Ava's new soft and snugly coat. Daddy's response to it was, "I didn't realize that a baby girl needs 6 coats". Silly Daddy, how did he not know that? :)

I just love her!!! She's becoming so much more animated and has become quite a little chatter box.

Our Big girl. She looks so old to me here.

She loves playing with her blocks

They are gone

Those wispy long hairs that made Ava look like an old man with a comb over in the back of her head...they are gone. Ava had her 1st unofficial haircut last night. I wanted her first haircut to be at the little kid salon, so this doesn't really count. Those long hairs just distracted from her beauty so I thought they should probably go. Now I feel like the back of her hair looks funny...it's all one length.

It's been a pretty low key week in our household. Ava spent all day Monday and Tuesday at daycare. Wednesday we hung out and went to the gym. I picked up a shift on Thursday since Daddy had the day off, so they hung out and went to the gym as well. Daddy spent the rest of Thursday "smoking" a brisket for dinner. Grandma and Grandpa came over to enjoy dinner with us (we know they really just came to see Ava, but dinner was a good excuse). Ava showed Grandma how much she loves to play in the bathtub, splashing and chewing on rubber ducky.

The temperature has dropped here so it was time to pull out the "footie jammies". Ava looks so darn cute in them. She was a little confused as to why she couldn't get her "socks" off. She spends most of her day pulling her socks off and playing with them. So when she had on her pjs, she just kept pulling and pulling.

Daddy and Ava get quality time again this weekend, as I work my 12 hour shifts. Ava will see her first snow fall tomorrow. We are currently under a winter storm warning...Not looking forward to driving tomorrow!!! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Ava sporting her new hairdo

She's a little unsure about her footie pjs

Grandma, Ava, & Grandpa before dinner

I still love when she looks over Daddy's shoulder going up to bed every night. What a sweet girl God has blessed us with!

Mommy's 1st night away

Saturday morning Nate and I left for Decorah to celebrate our 3 year wedding anniversary. It would be my first night away from Miss Ava. Daddy dropped her off at Grandma & Grandpa's with a bag full of toys, bottles, clothes, and a short list of instructions. She was so excited to go to Grandma & Grandpa's that she woke up at 6:00 and talked about it for an hour in her crib until we went and got her.

Nate and I met up with our friend Tommy for lunch, and then went to Luther's campus. We were both super disappointed to find that the bookstore had closed 2 hour prior to our arrival. We had big plans to expand Ava's wardrobe with Luther gear. So watched the rest of the Luther football game and then headed to the Bed & Breakfast that we were staying at for the night. We then had a wonderful dinner at a place that we had not been to before (it's a place that was opened by a Luther grad that Nate knows 3 years ago) We finished the evening by going to see a movie. We haven't seen a movie since the week before Ava was born.

I was a good girl, and only called once the whole evening to see how Ava was doing. I of course missed her, but knew that she was in good hands. It was so nice for Nate and I to get away and have some time to ourselves. We really enjoyed the quiet time for just the two of us, but also loved seeing Ava's smiles when we walked into Grandma & Grandpa's. Thank you so so much Grandma & Grandpa. Nate and I thoroughly enjoyed our weekend, and I have no doubt that Ava did as well!

We were in need of a hat as we ran to the mailbox, and Daddy's hat was on the top of the pile in the closet. I think she liked it.

Modeling her leg warmers and a random shirt Saturday morning for b-fast, before it was bath time

This is what a weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's will do to a little girl!

I think Uncle Wes enjoyed the snuggle time. She was pretty comfortable in his arms.

Friends

Last night we got to spend a wonderful evening with friends. Ava's friend Cora came over to play, and brought our friends Mike & Kristi with her. Cora amazed us with her mobility. She's rolling everywhere, and was even up on all fours rocking back and forth. Ava was impressed as she looked on, sitting and sucking her thumb. :) Ava seems to have no motivation or interest to crawl, or even roll across the room. I guess it makes it easier to watch her for the time being. She'll get there on her own time, I know! It was so nice to catch up with Mike & Kristi, and Ava is already looking forward to our next play date.

Ava and I ran a couple of errands today, and don't have much on the schedule for tomorrow. Friday afternoon she'll go to day care while I work an evening shift, and then it's off to Grandma & Grandpa V's on Saturday morning. Nate and I are going to Decorah on Saturday and will return home on Sunday. We're going down for a late celebration of our anniversary. It will be my first night away from Ava. I'm feeling ok about it. It's been 8 1/2 months and I know that she's in good hands. It will be good for Nate and I to get away for a night. I'm hoping for good weather in Decorah so that we can spend some time outside enjoying the beautiful town. and visiting Luther's campus.

She's been sucking her thumb more (it used to just be when she was going to sleep). She now has a little sore on her thumb from sucking it so much.

Look at those cuties! They are so funny together, looking at each other and "playing toys"